QA Graphics, an Iowa interactive design firm, is developing interactive displays for Hy-Vee to help educate the grocery company’s consumers about its sustainable initiatives.

Hy-Vee has been taking a number of steps to make its stores and operations more environmentally friendly, and has looked to QA Graphics for a creative way within the stores to illustrate these sustainable initiatives, according to a news release.

QA Graphics has developed the Sustainable Building Dashboard, which is an interactive application used to educate about sustainability. The dashboard is to be incorporated at all of Hy-Vee’s new store locations. The first store it has been implemented at is the Hy-Vee in Urbandale, Iowa. The dashboard is displayed on a 42-inch touchscreen near the store entrance, allowing customers to learn more about the store’s sustainable features. The Urbandale store has been designed and built to LEED standards, although it has yet to be formally scored.

On the application, viewers can see what steps were implemented to follow the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification guidelines. Real-time energy information shows how much electricity is being used throughout the store and how much energy is generated from photovoltaic panels located in the canopies covering four electric vehicle charging stations. A green calculator shares how the energy saved compares to a variety of everyday features, like how many homes could be powered for a year or how many loads of laundry could be dried. A 3D layout allows users to view where sustainable features are located throughout the interior and exterior, and interactive demonstrations illustrate how the photovoltaic system, day lighting and car charging station help the environment.

“We are excited about the opportunity that these Sustainable Building Dashboards provide, allowing us to engage our customers more fully in our sustainable efforts,” says Michael Smith, assistant VP of real estate and sustainability for Hy-Vee. “We are hopeful customers will see the dashboards as an opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas on what matters to them from a sustainable perspective.”

Also shown on the display is Hy-Vee 360, a website providing information about company-wide sustainability and healthy living efforts, including waste reduction and recycling, sustainable products and sourcing, packaging and transportation efforts, along with tips on how consumers can live a healthy and sustainable life. This site also can be viewed online here.

Additional store locations that currently are in construction and plan to display the Sustainable Building Dashboard to educate consumers include Ankeny and Waukee, Iowa, Olathe, Kan., and Omaha, Neb.

QA Graphics provides similar solutions across North America for commercial buildings, schools, universities and others. Learn more about the dashboard solution here.

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About The Author

A former newspaper editor and publisher who has handled digital duties for The Shelby Report since 2011. She once enjoyed leisurely perusing the grocery store aisles but, since having a baby in 2016, is now an enthusiastic click-and-collect shopper.

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